Page 14 - ISSUE49
P. 14
BLAKE BAGGETT
450 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / CAVAZOS WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> With Ken Roczen out, Ryan Dungey retiring, Ryan Villopoto long gone, and James Stewart nowhere to be found, it’s time for someone to step up, and take the spot they feel can now rightfully be theirs. As negative as it sounds, when some of the top guy’s in the game choose not to compete, it can do wonders for competitors confidence, those guys that are just in the second tier. Glen Helen was a place for the new beginning to continue its journey. Blake Baggett feels at home here, almost as if it’s his true backyard track, knowing the owner’s since his minibike days. And
it was apparent, with his mojo grooving from the get go. Although a 14th place start wasn’t in the pre-race memo, he was all to familiar with this position, as he would come through the pack like his aforementioned days of youth (and the 250 class). Fighting every lap, his line choice was unique, taking insides where the faster line was to rail, and vice versa. Attacking Mt.St. Helen a gear taller than most, you could hear the faint sound of his KTM silencing the crowd as he went by, all to allow a little less tension on the motorcycle. Pushing way past riders such as Justin Bogle, and Weston Peick, he would go on to finish 8th. With a pre-race pep talk sending chills
up his spine, the mechanic and team rallied around the California native, propelling him to a second place start. He would hound Christian Craig, never loosing sight of his butt-patch for the entire duration of the first four laps. His mechanic tightening the bayonet, and yelling charge, he would fight, moving passed Craig on lap five. Holding off Jason Anderson for just a short while, it wouldn’t last, being on the unfortunate end of a move down the start straight. He would have the KTM pinned into the open- ing corner, but it wasn’t enough. However, he would stay attached to the rear fender of the Husky for as long as he could, enough to bring home a second place finish, and third overall.
14 GRITMOTO • MAY 28, 2017
